All private newspapers were either closed down or nationalized when Burma's military took power in 1962. The military monopolized the media including television, radio and newspapers.
Burma, which has enjoyed one of the freest presses in Asia during the British colonial and parliamentary democracy eras, was left without a single independent newspaper to this day.
To fill the void democratic forces abroad decided to launch their own newspaper the New Era in January 1993, said U Thaung, chief editor of the newspaper. The late U Tin Maung Win was the driving force behind the successful publishing of the New Era from Thailand.
When he passed away in December 1999, his wife Khin Myo Aye left her job in the United States to carry on with her late husband's mission.
Khin Myo Aye said the New Era has a circulation of 15,000 and is distributed to 19 countries. Inspite of many difficulties she vowed to continue publishing the newspaper until democracy is achieved in Burma.